Maloney in negotiations to join Mainz on a free, Plettenberg reports

Disaffected 1. FC Heidenheim midfielder Lennard Maloney, per German transfer guru Florian Plettenberg, has chosen his suitor. The Sky sports journalist reports that the twice-capped USMNT international will allow his expiring contract with his current club to run out and switch to FSV Mainz 05 on a free transfer this summer.

Heidenheim may still seek to cash in on the 25-year-old rather than lose him on a free, but Plettenberg claims talk of a winter transfer is off the table. The Ostalbenstäbler sent a strong signal yesterday by tying down Maloney's presumed replacement Jan Schöppner down to a long term deal.

Mainz themselves have a stable midfield axis in the form of Nadiem Amiri and Kaishu Sano. Maloney could ostensibly serve as Amiri's replacement if - as is rumored - Amiri departs the Rheinhessen this offseason.